Inertia bullet puller

ABSTRACT

A hammer like device capable of separating the assembled components of a gun cartridge by positioning the cartridge in secured relationship within one end of the head portion of the device and striking the opposite end of the head portion on a solid object.

Unite States Isenhower, deceased et al.

[ Aug. 12, 1975 INERTIA BULLET FULLER Inventors: Robert H. lsenhower, deceased, late of Phoenix. Ariz., by Bonnie J. Isenhower, executrix; David M. Garman, both of 4838 N. 29th St.. Phoenix, Ariz. 85016 Filed: Aug. 8, 1973 Appl. No.: 386,771

US. Cl 86/1 A; 81/305; 86/44; 269/239 Int. Cl. F42B 33/10 Field of Search 86/1 A, l R, 44, 24, 28, 86/33, 37, 40, 42, 43, 44; 8l/3.05; 269/236, 237, 254 CS References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1909 Sistek et al. 269/238 X 2,417,457 3/1947 Moore 86/1 A 2.74l,l48 4/1956 Thompson, Jr. 86/43 X 2,976,033 3/1961 Martin 269/254 X CS 3,025,743 3/1962 3,583,088 l/l97l OTHER PUBLICATIONS American Rifleman," Feb. I950, p. 52. Gunsmithing Simplified," 195, H. E. McFarland, pp. 49,50.

Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Assistant ExaminerHarold Tudor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Warren F. B. Lindsley 5 7] ABSTRACT A hammer like device capable of separating the assembled components of a gun cartridge by positioning the cartridge in secured relationship within one end of the head portion of the device and striking the opposite end of the head portion on a solid object.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures INERTIA BULLET PULLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hand held manually operated devices utilized for separating the components of shell of a gun cartridge by inertia without damage to i the component parts of the cartridge.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore, many types of machines and associated apparatus have been devised and utilized for disassembly of gun cartridges. Such machines or apparatus are designed to perform the cartridge disassembly function quickly, safely and efficiently in a manner such that these components may be used again for reloading or reassembly of high quality cartridges.

Most of the hardware mentioned in the preceding paragraph have been designed and utilized for high production, commercial purposes and consequently are too heavy, complicated, expensive and nonportable to be practical for use by individual hunter or sportsmen.

Therefore, in accordance with the invention claimed, a new and improved lightweight, hand held, manually operable cartridge disassembler or bullet pulling device is provided which is simple in design and construction, consisting of a minimum of inexpensively manufactured parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide an improved, lightweight, hand held and manipulated inertia bullet puller.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved inertia bullet puller which is capable of dislodging the bullet from the cartridge shell in which it is secured by striking a solid object one or more sharp blows with one end of the hammer like head of the puller.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, hand held and manipulated inertia gun cartridge disassembling tool which may be utilized safely and with a minimum of physical effort without damage to the components of the cartridge being separated.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention may be more readily described by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled inertia bullet puller of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the cartridge receiving end of the bullet puller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the bullet puller shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 1 showing the cartridge-receiving and holding elements of the device in their closed position.

FIG'. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the cartridge receiving and holding elements of'the device in their open position securely clamping andholding the shell or case portion of a cartridge (in dotted line) while the bullet and powder components of the cartridge (also shown in dotted line) are being extracted therefrom.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 discloses an inertia bullet puller 10 of hammer like configuration comprised of two major components, namely a head assembly 11 and a handle assembly 12.

The head assembly 11 comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion 13 preferably formed of any suitable plastic, non ferri or other suitable material which is capable of withstanding the punishment of successive blows of its hammering or contact end 14 on any solid object without sparking. Body portion 13 is provided with a central bore 15, the diameter of which is slightly larger than the outside diameter of any assembled cartridge that may be placed and supported therein. Bore 15 extends through the center of body portion 13 from its flat smooth top end 16 to a point below the inwardly tapered handle receiving bore 17 of an integral rearwardly projecting boss 18 of body portion 13. At this point, bore 15 extends in an angular direction from the center of the body portion, as indicated at 15", through the rear outer cylindrical surface of the same to form an outlet 19 for the discharge of bullets and powder therethrough when separated from the shell or casing of the cartridge.

Body portion 13 is also provided with an integral bifurcated projection 20 which extends from boss 18 to a point adjacent its end 16 which is adapted to receive and support in pivoted relationship between its opposed bifurcated surfaces 21, an L-shaped, flat lever arm 22. Lever arm 22 is pivoted thereon by a pin 23 with one leg 24 of the lever arm 22 extending rearwardly in normal parallel relationship with the handle assembly 12, at which point it is formed to provide a flat surfaced end portion 25 used for actuating or rotating lever arm 22 about its pivot 23. The other leg 26 of lever arm 22 is provided with a reduced end portion 27 at its extreme outer end for purposes hereinafter explained.

The handle assembly 12 which comprises handle 28 is shaped to provide a firm comfortable hand grip for the user and may be formed of wood, lightweight metal, such as aluminum in solid or tubular form, or plastic with one end tapered to snugly fit into the tapered bore 17 and removably held therein by pin 29 extending into boss 18.

Handle 28 is provided with an aperture 30 projecting therethrough which is in alignment with the lower edge of leg 24 of lever arm 22 for receiving the lower end of an elongated pin or latch rod 31. Latch rod 31 is adapted to fit in sliding relation therein, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with its free end formed to provide a hook portion 32. Hook portion 32 is adapted to be received in an aperture 33 formed in the rear leg 24 of lever arm"22 so that when the lever arm is moved up or down about pivotpin 23, latch rod 31 will slide in aperture 31.

A compression spring 34 and washer 35 are arranged on latch rod 31 previous to its insertion in the aperture 30 of the handle so that the spring is interposed between and in contact with the lower edge of the leg 24 of the lever arm 22 and the outer surface of handle 28. In this position, it normally applies pressure to leg 24, tending to rotate lever arm 22 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 23.

In order to provide a secure gripping, supporting and holding means for various sized cartridges that may be inserted in the central bore of body portion 13 of the head assembly 11, there is mounted on the flat, smooth end 16 of the body portion a plurality of stationary flat smooth comparatively thin plates 36, 37 and 38. These plates are held on end 16 by means of suitable machine screws 39. The lower base plate 36 and the upper cover plate 38 are of identical shape and size, each preferably having a semicircular end portion which matches onehalf the diameter of the cylindrical body portion 13. The other end of these plates are rectangular in shape and extend outwardly beyond the rear of body portion 13 over the outer end and rear face of the integral bifurcated projection 20. At this point, they are each provided with identical tapered slots 40 and 41, respectively.

The lower stationary base plate 36 is preferably thicker than cover plate 38 and is milled or routed out to provide a rectangular open space or area 42 (shown in FIG. 2) which extends through the vertical center of the base plate froom its bottom edge to its top curved surface. It is just as deep as the thickness of the intermediate stationary plate 37 to provide a pair of parallel guiding edges for plate 37 and a slidable rectangular plate 43. Plate 43 is slightly thinner than plate 37 and is confined in slidable relation in space 42.

Base plate 36 and cover plate 38 are each provided with aligned holes 44 and 45, respectively, which are of the same diameter as the central bore 15 in body portion 13. Plate 37 is rectangular in shape having a curved outer end which matches the curved contour of plates 36 and 38 and is just wide enough to fit tightly between the upstanding side edges which define the space 42. The inner end of plate 37 is provided with two angularly arranged sides 46 which form one-half of a diamond shaped opening, the vertex of which extends only a slight distance into the diameters of the aligned holes 44 and 45 in plates 36 and 38 and bore 15 in body portion 13 so that this one-half of the diamond shaped opening will be exposed to the vision of the user at all times.

The other one-half portion of the diamond shaped opening is formed by the two angularly positioned sides 47 ofa cut-out or notch formed in the mating inner end of plate 43. Plate 43 is rectangular in shape and much longer than the stationary plate 37 and extends beyond the bottom edges of the base and cover plates 36 and 38. Plate 43 is sized in thickness and width to slide easily in space 42 when so confined between the two plates by means of suitable machine screws 48.

The slidable plate 43 is provided on its longitudinal center and closely adjacent its outer end with a rectangular cut-out 49 which is sized to receive the reduced end portion 27 of the leg 26 of the L-shapedlever arm 22. Leg 26 projects therethrough in cam likerelation with the ends of the cut-out and together with lever arm 22 provides a means for sliding plate 43- longitudinally while confined in the open space 42 to increase or decrease the size of-rthe diamond shaped opening formed by the angular sides 46 and 47 of the cut-outs in the opposed ends of the stationary plate 37 and the slidable plate 43. The tapered slots 40 and 41 in base plate 36 and cover plate 38 provide for free sliding movement 'of the central bore 15 which has its outlet 19 facing toward the rear of the cylindrical body portion 13 of the head assembly' 11 could, if desired to provide a greater safety factor in the use, of the bullet puller, be reversed to allow the,outlet 19 to face toward the front of the body portion ofthe head assembly and thus away from the user of the tool OPERATION AND USAGE The assembled inertia bullet puller is light in weight and may be used to perform its specific function in a hammer like manner. The user grips handle 28 in his fingers and places his thumb on the flat surfaced end portion 25 of leg 24 of the L-shaped lever arm 22. He then exerts a downward pressure on surface 25 causing lever arm 22 to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 23 which movement is being resisted by the upward pressure of the compression spring 34.

The clockwiserotation of lever arm 22 causes the reduced outer end portion 27 of its leg 26 to contact and exert a cam like outward radial pressure on the end of the rectangular cut out 49 in the slidable plate 43 through which'itfrirojects. This action slides plate 43 outwardly, separating the respective angular sides 46 and 47 formed in the opposed ends of the fixed plate 37 and the slidable plate 43 to increase the size of the diamond or eliptical shaped opening formed between the opposed end's of the respective plates sufficiently to allow for=placement andentry of the assembled cartridge in this opening. The bullet end and most of the shell or casing extends into the central bore of body portion 13 of the head assembly 11.

It should'be' noted that most cartridges in use today are provided at the end of their shell or casing with a rim portion which is slightly larger in diameter than the diameterof the shell casing or with a circular groove or depression which is located slightly below the rim end of the shell.

These characteristics of the shells are utilized in this invention to provide securing and holding means for thecart'ridge which is to be disassembled.

If the cartridge inserted in the holes 44 and 45 of the base and cover'plate's 36 and 38, the diamond or eliptical shaped opening formed by the separation of the ends of the fixedplate'37 and the slidable plate 43, and the bore 15 of body portion 13, is provided with a rim portion; the underside of: the edges of the rim would rest on=the top side of the plates 37 and 43. The angular sides 46 and 47v=of the cut-outs which form the access opening contactxand bear against-the circumferential wall of the shell (as shown in dotted line in FIG. 2) to thereby retain the shell of the cartridge in secure relation within the central bore 15.

Should the cartridge be provided with a circular groove, as above described, the shell would be retained securely in its inserted position by allowing the angular or curved and opposed side edges 46 and 47 to enter and bear against the walls of circular groove formed in the circumference of the shell.

After the cartridge has been inserted in the aligned opening as described, above, the user removes his thumb from the flat surface 25 at the end of lever arm leg 24 allowing the compression spring 34 to exert sufficient pressure on the underside edge of leg 24 to rotate lever arm 22 in a counterclockwise direction causing the reduced end portion 27 of the integral leg 22 to exert pressure on the upper end of the rectangular cutout 49. This action forces the slidable plate 43 inwardly with the side edges 46 and 47 of the opposed ends of the fixed and slidable plates 37 and 43 tightly fitted against the circumference of the shell of the cartridge, thereby retaining the assembled cartridge securely in position for separation of its components including the bullet from the casing.

To separate the components of the assembled cartridge, it is then only necessary for the user to firmly grip the handle 28 of the assembled bullet puller and to strike a sharp blow with the hammering or contact end 14 of body portion 13 on same solid object to dislodge the bullet and powder from the securely retained shell or casing of the cartridge. The undamaged bullet and most of the powder passes through the central bore 15, its angular portion 15', and outlet 19 where it may be collected in a suitable container.

This action is possible because the inertia or pulling force exerted on the bullet by the force of the blow on the solid object is usually great enough to dislodge the bullet from the securely retained shell or casing of the cartridge. If this initial blow is insufficient to dislodge the bullet, one or two more blows may be required to do so. After the undamaged bullet and powder has been dislodged and recovered, the user may again depress the flat portion of the lever arm 22 thereby causing the slidable plate 43 to move outwardly removing its contact and grip from the circumference of the retained shell portion of the cartridge. The undamaged empty shell then may be easily removed from its place of retention allowing the slidable plate 43 to assume its closed position ready for the tool to be used again for another bullet pulling operation.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the apbore, the axis of which extends along the longitudinal axis and through at least a part of said body portion from said gripping means to a point between its ends where said bore opens outwardly of said body portion, said cartridge gripping means comprising an apertured plate mounted on said other end of said body portion with its aperture in line with said bore, a slidable plate slidably mounted between said other end of said body portion and said apertured plate, and trigger means for biasing said slidable plate toward the axis of said bore for gripping the casing of a cartridge inserted with its bullet end into said bore, said trigger means connected to said slidable plate for biasing said plate toward the axis of said bore and when pressure is applied to it by the hand of a user biasing said slidable plate away from the longitudinal axis of the bore. 2. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said trigger means comprises a lever arm pivotally mounted on said body portion and biased by spring means extending between said handle portion and said trigger means. 3. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said trigger means comprises an L-shape lever arm pivotally mounted on said body portion with one leg extending along and juxtapositioned of said body portion for engaging said slidable plate and the other leg extending along and juxtapositioned of said handle portion. 4. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said slidable plate is apertured and said one leg of said lever arm extends into the aperture in said slid able plate. 5. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 3 wherein:

said slidable plate is provided with a V-shaped slot at its cartridge engaging end for firmly gripping the casing of the cartridge. 6. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said bore opens outwardly of said body portion at a point between said handle portion and the hammer head end of said body portion. 7. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said cartridge gripping means further comprises a slotted plate mounted on the end of said body portion between said body portion and said apertured plate, and said slidable plate fits into and is movable in said slotted plate for gripping and releasing the casing of the cartridge. 8. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said bore is arranged along the longitudinal axis of said body portion at its other end. 

1. An inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device comprising: a cylindrical body portion and a handle portion extending laterally from said body portion, said body portion having a hammer head at one end, a cartridge gripping means at the other end, and a bore, the axis of which extends along the longitudinal axis and through at least a part of said body portion from said gripping means to a point between its ends where said bore opens outwardly of said body portion, said cartridge gripping means comprising an apertured plate mounted on said other end of said body portion with its aperture in line with said bore, a slidable plate slidably mounted between said other end of said body portion and said apertured plate, and trigger means for biasing said slidable plate toward the axis of said bore for gripping the casing of a cartridge inserted with its bullet end into said bore, said trigger means connected to said slidable plate for biasing said plate toward the axis of said bore and when pressure is applied to it by the hand of a user biasing said slidable plate away from the longitudinal axis of the bore.
 2. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said trigger means comprises a lever arm pivotally mounted on said body portion and biased by spring means extending between said handle portion and said trigger means.
 3. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said trigger means comprises an L-shape lever arm pivotally mounted on said body portion with one leg extending along and juxtapositioned of said body portion for engaging said slidable plate and the other leg extending along and juxtapositioned of said handle portion.
 4. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 3 wherein: said slidable plate is apertured and said one leg of said lever arm extends into the aperture in said slidable plate.
 5. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 3 wherein: said slidable plate is provided with a V-shaped slot at its cartridge engaging end for firmly gripping the casing of the cartridge.
 6. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bore opens outwardly of said body portion at a point between said handle portion and the hammer head end of said body portion.
 7. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said cartridge gripping means further comprises a slotted plate mounted on the end of said body portion between sAid body portion and said apertured plate, and said slidable plate fits into and is movable in said slotted plate for gripping and releasing the casing of the cartridge.
 8. The inertia affected hammer like cartridge disassembling device set forth in claim 1 wherein: said bore is arranged along the longitudinal axis of said body portion at its other end. 